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Parthenocarpy and Apomixis - NEET

Plants produce fruits and seeds following pollination and fertilization. But, there are other ways fruits and seeds are produced. Parthenocarpy is the formation or development of fruit without fertilization. Apomixis, on the other hand, is the formation of seeds without fertilization. 

Parthenocarpy

As mentioned above, parthenocarpy is a phenomenon by which fruits are developed without the process of fertilization. The difference between the fruits developed naturally and through parthenocarpy is that the fruits formed through parthenocarpy are seedless. They are known as seedless or virgin fruits.
Parthenocarpy is a form of asexual reproduction seen in flowering plants. It is found naturally in plants like banana and can also be induced artificially using growth regulators. Parthenocarpy is being increasingly used to produce seedless fruit varieties today because of the high quality and consistency in the yield.
In parthenocarpy, the ovary is stimulated even without pollination and thus fruit development begins without fertilization. This is common in plants that have no ovary or plants that have lost their ability to reproduce sexually due to a mutation.
Seedless Watermelon Parthenocarpy and Apomixis - NEET

Apomixis

While parthenocarpy is the formation of fruit without fertilization, apomixis is the formation of seeds without fertilization. In a natural flow of biological processes, pollination is the first step in the formation of a fruit and seed. The subsequent steps include cell divisions and fertilization.
But, in this case, there is no meiotic division and fertilization of the gametes to form a zygote. The entire process is cut short and seed formation occurs by the way of apomixis. It can be of two types:
Sporophytic – In this type, apomixis occurs from the diploid sporophyte
Gametophytic – In this type, apomixis occurs from the haploid gametophyte
Since apomixis involves the formation of seeds without syngamy, all the seeds are genetically similar. Therefore, it can be used in vegetative propagation.


Parthenocarpy and Apomixis - NEET
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FAQs on Parthenocarpy and Apomixis - NEET

1. What is parthenocarpy and how does it occur?
Ans. Parthenocarpy is a phenomenon in which fruits develop without fertilization or the presence of viable seeds. It occurs due to the activation of the fruit development process without the need for pollination or fertilization. This can be triggered by hormonal changes or genetic factors.
2. Can parthenocarpy be artificially induced in plants?
Ans. Yes, parthenocarpy can be artificially induced in plants through various methods. One common method is the application of plant growth regulators such as auxins or gibberellins. These hormones can stimulate fruit development without the need for pollination. Additionally, genetic engineering techniques can also be used to manipulate the genes responsible for fruit development and induce parthenocarpy.
3. What are the advantages of parthenocarpy in agriculture?
Ans. Parthenocarpy offers several advantages in agriculture. Firstly, it ensures fruit production even in the absence of pollinators, reducing the dependency on external factors for successful fruit set. Secondly, parthenocarpic fruits are often seedless, which can be desirable in certain markets or for specific culinary uses. Lastly, parthenocarpy can lead to the production of uniform and high-quality fruits, as the absence of seeds reduces variability in size and shape.
4. What is apomixis and how is it different from parthenocarpy?
Ans. Apomixis is a type of reproduction in plants where seeds are formed without fertilization. Unlike parthenocarpy, which involves the development of fruits without seeds, apomixis specifically refers to the formation of seeds without fertilization. This process can occur through various mechanisms, such as the production of embryos from unfertilized egg cells or the development of seeds from somatic cells.
5. Are parthenocarpy and apomixis common in nature?
Ans. Parthenocarpy is relatively common in certain plant species and is even commercially exploited in some crops such as bananas, seedless grapes, and certain citrus fruits. On the other hand, apomixis is less common in nature and is primarily observed in certain plant groups such as ferns and some flowering plants. However, the study and manipulation of these processes in agriculture have the potential to expand their applications in crop production.
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